Josh Smith makes early exit before Pistons bow out in Denver
| Detroit Pistons | 109 | Final |
Recap | Box Score118Denver Nuggets
| Greg Monroe, PF Shot Chart 41 MIN | 9-12 FG | 4-9 FT | 5 REB | 3 AST | 4 STL | 1 BLK | 2 TO | 22 PTS | +2It’s not a coincidence that Monroe does well when he’s got room down low, and tonight he had all the space he could handle down low. He was efficient on offense (and 2-for-2 on jumpers), but it’s the four steals and one block that boost his grade up. I have to deduct points for just five rebounds — especially without Andre Drummond. |
Josh Smith, SF
23 MIN | 4-11 FG | 0-0 FT | 7 REB | 1 AST | 0 STL | 2 BLK | 0 TO | 8 PTS | -6
Well, first he got posterized by Timofey Mozgov, and then he got himself tossed. Normally, like if this were a game the Pistons NEEDED to win, a night like that gets you a big, fat F. But when losing ain’t that bad, and posterizations are just kind of cool, it gets you an A.
Kyle Singler, SF
26 MIN | 5-8 FG | 0-0 FT | 9 REB | 0 AST | 0 STL | 1 BLK | 1 TO | 13 PTS | -10
Have I ever mentioned that Good Kyle Singler Nights are the best? With the Pistons using a more traditional lineup, Singler looked pretty solid as the main small forward. He rebounded well and scored 10 points in the third quarter.
Brandon Jennings, PG
30 MIN | 3-8 FG | 0-0 FT | 2 REB | 5 AST | 0 STL | 0 BLK | 4 TO | 7 PTS | -5
I thought these were the kind of games that Jennings thrived in? Apparently not. The up-and-down tempo of this one played right into the kind of quick-thinking play Jennings loves, but he was pretty blah on offense and, along with Will Bynum, absolutely horrendous in attempting to defend Aaron Brooks.
Rodney Stuckey, SG
37 MIN | 8-17 FG | 2-2 FT | 1 REB | 1 AST | 2 STL | 0 BLK | 2 TO | 18 PTS | -4
18 points… on 17 shots. Stuckey shoots, Stuckey scores, rinse and repeat.
Jonas Jerebko, PF
16 MIN | 3-7 FG | 0-0 FT | 3 REB | 0 AST | 0 STL | 0 BLK | 0 TO | 7 PTS | -1
This was a prime opportunity for Jerebko to really put together a strong night. Instead, he just kind of floated around. He had some nice rim-runs, but he couldn’t finish once he got there, and his rebounding — like the rest of the Pistons — was underwhelming.
Charlie Villanueva, PF
17 MIN | 5-13 FG | 0-0 FT | 4 REB | 1 AST | 0 STL | 0 BLK | 0 TO | 13 PTS | -13
If the Pistons really wanted to tank, they be letting Villanueva shoot 19 3-pointers per night.
Will Bynum, PG
22 MIN | 4-8 FG | 3-4 FT | 2 REB | 10 AST | 0 STL | 0 BLK | 1 TO | 12 PTS | -7
It feels like Bynum has consistently out-played Jennings for about a month now. Unfortunately, while his offensive numbers were superior, his defense was equally bad.
Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, SG
28 MIN | 2-11 FG | 4-4 FT | 10 REB | 1 AST | 2 STL | 0 BLK | 2 TO | 9 PTS | -1
He looked totally out of sorts offensively, but I like that the recent Fresh Prince of Trillions put together a well-rounded game. Those 10 rebounds were a career high, and he didn’t just settle for all jumpers, shown by the 4-for-4 showing at the line.
John Loyer
Did you know the Pistons are now a comical 1-32 when they trail entering the fourth quarter? That’s not Loyer’s fault, I just felt like we all needed a good laugh. Loyer wasn’t bad tonight. The Pistons looked decent offensively without 10,000 power forwards on the floor at once, and the team hung around even after Smith made his way to the locker room early. Of course, the team’s defense was bad all around, but it’s been consistently bad under Loyer. A loss is a loss; I think that’s how the saying goes?